Thomas a



(No Model.)

T. A. CROSS. l Postr HOLE BIGGER.

No. 471,767. Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. CROSS, OF BARDWELL, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TVO-THIBDS TOv ROBERT H. WEBB AND FRANK W. TURK, OF SAME PLACE.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,767,`dated March 29, 1892.

Application 'tiled .Tune 4., 1891. Serial No. 395,045. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS A. CROSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bardwell, in the county of Carlisle and State of Ken'- tucky, have invent-ed a new and useful Post Hole Digger, ot' which the following is a speci-` fication.

This invention relates to post-hole diggers; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which shall be simple in construction and eflicientin operation, and which shall be provided with means for expelling the dirt.

The invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a perspective View of a post-hole digger constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the saine. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The handle 1, which is tubular, as will be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is provided at its lower end with diver-ging' arms 2 2, to the lower ends of which is attached the blade or cutter 3, which is cylindrical in shape and provided with a Vertical slot 4.

5 designates a rod or stem arranged in the tubular handle, and connected with the cap 6 of the latter by means of a coiled spring 7. The lower end of the rod or stem 5 carries a circular plate 3, which may he made of castiron perforated, as Will be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The stem or rod 5 is provided with a laterally-extending arm or treadle 9,

adapted to engage a notch l0 in one of the arms or brackets 2.

In operation the blade of the implement is forced into the ground, thusenabling the dirt, which is held by the ilexible or elastic blade, to be readily removed. To remove the dirt from the blade, the treadle 9 is disengaged from the notch lO and the rod or sternv carrying the cleaning-plate 3 may then be pushed in a downward direction, thus pushing the dirt out from the blade or cutter. The tension of the spring 7 will restore the rod carrying the cleaning-plate to its elevated position, when the treadle is released from pressure. When the treadle engages the notch 10 itmay be used as a rest for the foot of the operator to assist him lin forcing theiniplement into the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isp In a post-hole digger, the combination of the tubularl handle, theV diverging arms carrying the cylindrical blade or cutter, one of said arms being provided with a notch the vertically sliding and rotatable stem or rod carrying the cleaning-plate and having alaterally-extending arm adapted'by the rotation of the rod to be swung into the notch, and a spring arranged to force the said plate in an upward direction, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. CROSS.

Witnesses:

J. B. RAY, H. M. SAUNDERs. 

